Escaped killer linked to Sydney assault

Authorities have confirmed that a man linked to an assault in Sydney last week is an escapee from a psychiatric hospital, where he had been held since stabbing a man to death.

Trent Jennings is accused of bashing a 50-year-old man and stealing his Mercedes four-wheel drive after the pair made contact on a social networking site and met at the victim's Zetland home on Thursday.

Police say the car was seen south of Coffs Harbour on the following day.

Hunter New England Health have confirmed a patient at Morisset Hospital failed to return from day leave as arranged on Friday.

Jennings' escape comes eight years after he admitted to fatally stabbing Giuseppe Vitale in the neck after the pair met through an internet chat room for sex.

Jennings claimed he feared Mr Vitale - who was tied up at the time of his death - was going to rape him.